Project Manager West Bank Disability Rights and Advocacy

 
POSITION: PROJECT MANAGER WEST BANK DISABILITY RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY
   
LINE-MANAGER: HEAD OF MISSION - OPT

POSITION TYPE: FIXED TERM
   
LOCATION OF THE POSITION: RAMALLAH - WEST BANK

-MAIN INTERNAL INTERFACES :
-HEAD OF MISSION TECHNICAL RESOURCES UNIT
-TECHNICAL ADVISOR – WEST BANK
-LOCAL ADMINISTRATION TEAMS (ADMINISTRATION OFFICERS, LOGISTICIANS…)
-OTHER PROJECT TEAM IN WB
   
MAIN EXTERNAL INTERFACES:
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INGO

-DISABLE PEOPLE ORGANIZATION
-EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION
-UN ORGANIZATION
-OTHER COORDINATION BODIES

WORK START DATE:ASAP
   

END OF CONTRACT : 1 YEAR INITIAL CONTRACT, RENEWABLE


OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION:
Under the line management of the oPt Head of Mission, the project manager will ensure the implementation of the project entitled “Advancing the rights of vulnerable and marginalized persons with disabilities in the West Bank” through all inclusive advocacy led by the disability movement, and participate in the design of new projects.

Project background
HI has been operating in Palestine since 1996 and has developed relationship with several disability stakeholders. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics there are around 3,9 million Palestinian living in the OPT (3,5 million in West Bank and 1,4 million in Gaza strip), 43% of them below 15 years of age. According to general estimations by WHO, between 7-10% of a given population would have some kind of disability; in the Palestinian Territories, this implies that the figure would be around 270 000 – 390 000 people. The last census in 1997 gives a figure of 1,9%. This percentage is certainly a low estimation since the last census was implemented before the second Intifada, which has resulted in thousands of people attaining permanent disabilities.
Handicap International’s continuous dialogue with stakeholders shows that the recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities is hardly gaining ground across the government and the non-governmental sector. Disability has been excluded from mainstream legislation, national plans and programmes. Instead, it is largely dealt with from an emergency perspective with a historic focus on service provision in the field of health-related rehabilitation and a charitable approach. Poor knowledge on the Convention Right Person with Disability as well as poor understanding of its benefits and relevant tools in national policy makers and the absence of such capacities in local and grass-root decision makers hinder the effective shift away from such responses.
The disability movement itself has recently experienced a renaissance, with key actors developing a new generation and stimulating the ‘old’ movement. However, fragmentation, poor representation and participation of most vulnerable and marginalized constituencies and the absence of a common agenda prevent them from making bigger voices heard: To date, DPOs are largely based in central cities, led by persons with physical impairments and target rather the national level.
Specific Objective of the action: Disabled peoples' organizations (DPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) at national and local level in the West Bank are engaged in advocacy activities for the rights of vulnerable persons with disabilities   and those living in marginalized areas, fostering a cross-disability approach
-Vulnerable and marginalized persons with disabilities are mobilized for self-representation in DPOs and SHGs in their communities
-DPOs and SHGs have developed inclusive advocacy skills and practices at local and national levels
DPOs and SHGs mutually enrich their actions through coordination and experience sharing at governorate and national levels

JOB DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBILITY 1
1-Implementation of the project in the West Bank:
Under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of Mission:

1.1-Project management
-Lead, supervise and ensure the project implementation:
-Project leading  and regular planning
-Plan the different stages and tasks involved in realizing this project and draw up a project action plan. (P&M)
-Determine the methodology to be used in the project implementation with the support of the Head of Mission, Regional Operational Coordinator (ROC), and Regional Technical Unit (RTU) 
-Ensure representation towards partners
 
Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
-set up monitoring system and tools and ensure the continuous monitoring of the activities of the  project
-Co-ordinate between all the project’s internal and external interfaces
-Prepare the evaluation phases and implement any recommendations resulting from the evaluations carried out

Partnership
-Update and/or confirm identification of implementing partners based on project planning with the support of the Technical Advisor
-Define jointly with partner roles and responsibilities of HI and partners within the project, propose and finalize (when validated) the partnership/grant agreements
-Set up a co-ordination mechanism between the partners and lead the steering committee.
-Communicate on the project’s activities with all of the partners

Internal and external reporting
-Submit monthly project activity report (activity and internal budget follow up) to the Head of Mission based on P&M tool
-Write the activity reports related to the project according to donors schedule and requirements and submit to the Head of Mission.

1.2 Team management
-Propose team job description and recruit a project team with HoM validation
-Assess project needs in term internal and external human resources and propose accordingly to HoM
-Manage the project's team
-Develop with the team members Individual Progress Plan and update it every 6 months
-Conduct job evaluation of HI project team once a year and midterm evaluation every 6 months
-To inform the different team members about program orientations
-Adopt security procedures for the project in accordance with HI security guidelines

1.3 Project quality
In collaboration  with the RTU in HI-ME
-Relate to the RTU member assigned as main support to the project, together with the project’s technical advisor, in order to:
-Ensure that activities are implemented in accordance with technical framework defined and validated by RTU
-Ensure the project’s quality in terms of realization and impact.
-Identify any technical, methodological or documentary resources or additional skills for guaranteeing the quality of the project
-Participate in analyzing lessons learned on the association's experience gained on the projects and activities

1.4 Administrative, budget and financial management
-Propose any contracting procedures necessary for the project’s implementation. Manage the project’s financial, logistical and material resources
-Ensure a correct follow-up of the administrative and logistic aspects of the project.
-Monitor the project budget and follow-up

RESPONSIBILITY 2:
2-Other tasks required
-Identify and design new project(s) in collaboration with the Head of Mission and the regional support team
-Develop network among disability stakeholders 
-Contribute to have better knowledge and understanding on disability in the West bank through regular need assessment, stakeholders mapping, and regular update to HoM
-Provide all the information necessary for and participate in the process of drawing up the annual strategy and/or the budget estimates for the sector or the programme
-Represent Handicap International project in the West Bank in collaboration with the Head of Mission

JOB REQUIREMENTS:   
-The position is based in Ramallah.
-Ability to work under pressure in an unstable and changing environment, Flexibility, ability to take initiatives and make decision.
-Leadership.
-Good team player.
 
PROFILE SOUGHT:
MANAGERIAL SKILLS:
-Excellent Management skills.
-Good Organizational skills / Proactive.
-High level written and verbal skills.
-Good skills in organization, co-ordination and the transfer of knowledge are essential. The person must be able to work independently and without constant supervision.
-Excellent communication skills are essential to ensure cohesion with other projects and partner staff.
-Diplomacy and good negotiating skills are primordial.

TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING SKILLS:
-Good understanding of Disability Rights issues and advocacy.
-Capacity to formalize tools and procedures.
-Motivation for Rights Based Approach.
-Training capacities.
-Good level of spoken and written English.
-Technical knowledge on  Community base and organizational development. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
-Level of education: Bachelor degree in Human Rights / OT ; PCM in development context ;  community development ; public health.
-At least 5 years of experience in project cycle management with proven skills in planning, monitoring and evaluation.
-Experience in budget management.
-Experience in human resources management.
-Experience in development of grassroots civil society organizations.

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from persons with disabilities interested candidates may please send their resume with cover letter before the 10th of November 2012 to [email protected].